By Izunna Okafor, Awka
In strict enforcement of its Executive Order issued during the State Executive Council Retreat held on January 21, 2026, the Anambra State Government has announced the suspension of nine school heads over persistently low pupil and student turnout in their schools, an indication that the abolished Monday sit-at-home is still being observed in their schools.
The two-week temporary suspension, which may culminate into outright dismissal if care is not taken, affects the headteachers and principals of Union Primary School, Ukpo; Walter Eze Secondary School, Ukpo; Aguoji Primary School, Ifitedunu; Hilltop Primary School, Ifitedunu; Chukwurah Primary School, Abatete; Uzubi Primary School, Eziowelle; Union Primary School, Eziowelle; Umunebo Primary School, Nteje; and Central School, Atani, which are all government-owned schools spread across different local government areas of the state.
The disciplinary action was announced on Monday, February 9, during a monitoring and assessment visit to schools by the Chairman of the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, Dr. Vera Nwadinobi, who led members of the Board on an inspection tour to evaluate compliance with the state government’s directive against Monday school closures.
Findings from the visit revealed alarming levels of absenteeism among pupils and students, despite the presence of some teaching staff in several of the schools. In some locations, classrooms were completely empty, while others recorded attendance figures as low as two to five pupils, a development the Board described as unacceptable and contrary to government policy.
At Union Primary School, Ukpo, in Dunukofia Local Government Area, only three pupils were present during the visit, while no student was found at Walter Eze Secondary School, also in Ukpo. Aguoji Primary School, Ifitedunu, recorded just five pupils, and Hilltop Primary School in the same community had only three pupils in attendance.
Similarly, no pupil was found at Chukwurah Primary School, Abatete, in Idemili North Local Government Area. Uzubi Primary School, Eziowelle, recorded only two pupils, while Union Primary School, Eziowelle, had just three. At Umunebo Primary School, Nteje, in Oyi Local Government Area, as well as Central School, Atani, in Ogbaru Local Government Area, there were no pupils on ground at the time of the assessment.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the situation, Dr. Nwadinobi explained that the assessment exercise was part of the state-wide monitoring mechanism to ensure strict compliance with the Executive Order abolishing sit-at-home-related school closures. She noted that the continued low turnout undermines government efforts to restore normal academic activities and enforce discipline within the public education system.
Following the findings, the state government approved the immediate suspension of the affected school heads for an initial period of two weeks. The suspended school heads have were also directed to hand over their responsibilities to the next most senior officers in their respective schools to ensure that administrative and academic activities continue without disruption.
The government further warned that the action reflects its zero tolerance for negligence and lack of commitment to duty, stressing that any repeat of such infractions by affected officials would attract stiffer sanctions, including outright dismissal from the civil service.
Recall that the Anambra State Government, in January 2026, issued an Executive Order formally abolishing the closure of schools on Mondays due to sit-at-home. The government also warned that any teacher or non-teaching staff who fails to comply with the directive risks salary sanctions, including partial payment or outright forfeiture, as conveyed in an official circular issued by ASUBEB.
Meanwhile, this reporter, Izunna Okafor, gathered that the suspension of the school heads by the state government has triggered off a chain of reactions and counter-reactions among netizens, with some hailing it as commendable, while many others criticize it as an injustice and abuse of power, given that the school heads themselves and the staff were in school ready to work; and that it’s not part of their responsibilities to force parents to bring their children to schools on Mondays if they decided not to.
As at the time of filing this report, ASUBEB is yet to react to the criticisms that have trailed its action or clarify why it decided to sanction the school heads whom themselves were said to be in school as at the time of the inspection.
